Africa-Press – Mauritius. A parliamentary question by Adrien Duval regarding ministerial travels and per diem allowances led to a heated exchange with Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam. Duval inquired about the possibility of revising the scales for these missions, prompting Ramgoolam to reveal Duval’s own travel expenses as Speaker of the National Assembly, criticizing him for hypocrisy.
Ramgoolam stated that expenses are governed by a 2017 circular from the Ministry of Finance, and ministers are allowed to travel in first class while junior ministers travel in business class. He explained that transportation is usually provided by the organizers or the host country, and the government only covers car rentals with drivers when those options are unavailable.
Duval questioned the necessity of maintaining the same per diem rates given the economic situation, suggesting a reduction to align with austerity measures. Ramgoolam dismissed this as demagoguery and criticized Duval’s past enjoyment of the same privileges he was now questioning.
Ramgoolam disclosed that he had declined numerous invitations to international events, including an invitation from the Indian Prime Minister and the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral, sending delegates instead. He emphasized that ministerial travels are approved only if deemed strategically, economically, and geopolitically important.
Ramgoolam revealed that from November 2024 to the present, ministers and junior ministers had undertaken 40 official visits abroad, costing Rs 28,278,224. He compared this to the previous government’s expenses of Rs 196,400,000 for the period 2015 to 2024, and challenged Duval’s comparison of figures for a full term versus the current government’s seven months.
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